XLVII.–XLVIII.—Nos. 24 and 32, BETTERTON
STREET.

General description and date of structure.

No. 24, Betterton Street, dating from the 18th century, must at one
time have been a fine residence, but there is now nothing in it to record.
The doorcase is illustrated on Plate 35.

No. 32 also dates from the 18th century. Attached to these
premises is a boldly recessed carved wooden doorcase of interesting design,
illustrated on Plate 36. The interior of the house contains a wood and
compo chimney piece of some interest in the front room of the ground
floor, and one of white marble, relieved with a little carving and red stone
inlay, in the corresponding room on the floor above.

Condition of repair.

The houses are in fair repair.

Biographical notes.

The sewer ratebook for 1718 shows "John Bannister" in occupation of No,
32. This was probably John Bannister, the younger, "who came from
an old St. Giles's family, his father having been a musician, composer and violinist,
and his grandfather one of the parish waits. He himself was in the royal band during
the reigns of Charles II., James II., William and Mary, and Anne, and played first
violin at Drury Lane theatre, when Italian operas were first introduced into England." (fn. 1)